More than 28,000 people lived along the river in 38 villages. For most of them, the Techa River was the only source of drinking water, they bathed in it and washed their clothes. As much as ¼ of the radioactive waste was Cesium and Strontium isotopes. They were deposited in bones and soft tissues, causing lesions leading to chronic radiation sickness.
The disease was regularly found in residents of riverside villages.
Initially, the authorities banned people from bathing and washing in the rivers. They were ordered to drink water from wells dug on the spot. The real reason for the new bans and orders was concealed from the residents, as the existence and purpose of the Mayak combine was to remain a strict secret. People did not comply with the guidelines and continued to use the river. In response, the authorities cordoned off the river with barbed wire, which stopped some people.
After 1951, the amount of waste poured into the river was greatly reduced, and people began to clean up the waste before it poured in. Dams were erected to make controlled discharges.
